World Championships tougher than Olympics: Neeraj Chopra

NEW DELHI: After becoming the first Indian to win the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships, 25-year-old Neeraj Chopra admitted that he finds the World Championships tougher than the Olympics.


Chopra won the coveted world title on Sunday night in Budapest with a strong throw of 88.17m.

"Olympics was very special and World Championships is a big title. If you talk competition-wise, World Championships is always tougher than Olympics. All the athletes come prepared for this.

"Many people came from India here and local public support was also great. Thus win is special," said.



Chopra also praised his teammates Kishore Kumar Jena and DP Manu, both of whom finished in the top eight.

"Kishore Jena and DP Manu also did very well (finished fifth and sixth). Our athletics is growing. But we have to do a lot of work also. I spoke to Adille sir (AFI president) about the Mondo tracks here and hoping that we will also have this in India just like here. We will do even better in coming years," Chopra added.

Chopra has arguably become India's greatest sportsperson of all time but the slightest reference makes the newly-crowned World Champion uncomfortable.


There is no disputing who the best Indian track and field athlete of all time is, but Chopra, who is renowned for both his modesty and his prowess with the javelin, doesn't want to get engaged in that discussion.

"I will never say this, the greatest of all time. People say that just the world Championships gold is missing. I won it now but I have many things left to do and I will focus on that. I would not like to say this (greatest of all time).

"If you want to say greatest of all time, it would have to be like Jan Zelezny," he said in the context of world record holder in javelin.

Legendary Czech Republic javelin thrower Zelezny holds the world record of 98.48m and won three Olympic and three World Championships gold. He is also Chopra's idol.

(With PTI inputs)

Neeraj Chopra wins India's first World Championships gold

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships on Sunday in Budapest.

Neeraj Chopra pipped Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem in the javelin final with an 88.17 metre effort.

Neeraj Chopra won Olympic gold in Tokyo but managed only a silver at the worlds in Eugene last year.

Pakistan's Nadeem, coming back from elbow surgery and a knee injury, produced his season's best effort of 87.82 on his third attempt to win the silver medal.

Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch took the bronze with 86.67.

Neeraj Chopra needed only one attempt in the qualification round to lead the field with a season-best 88.77 metres.

But the Indian was unhappy with his first effort in the final, deliberately stepping over the line for a foul.

Neeraj Chopra then soared into the lead on his second attempt, turning his back and celebrating in trademark fashion with his arms aloft while pointing at the sky immediately after his throw, knowing it was good.

Nadeem was competing in his first event of the year and as soon as the javelin landed on his third attempt, he broke into a wide grin as he moved up to second.